EPILOGUE

Jack was flying, looking down he could see the crystal blue sea poking through white fluffy clouds. He grinned twisting in midair gliding through the crisp mist then up to the warm sun. He stretched. This could go on forever. Freedom, weightlessness. Then he was falling. HIs grin didn't fade as he felt the wind push against him as the vast open land beneath called him with the song of a mother. His body automatically went into the crouch that the army pounded into him until it was as natural as walking. Jack reached up for the pull cord. With horror he realized he didn't have one, Jack's heart exploded into a wild gallop. The green trees were shadowed beasts reaching to grab him, pull him into the dark mouth of the empty grave-Jack covered his head with both arms and screamed…

"AAAARGHH!" Jack sucked in air, his body shaking. He patted his body and realized he was in bed, in a room, in a building-no forest.

"Jack, you ok?" Jack whirled to see Riley's wide, scared eyes staring at him. He took a long breath and brushed away cold sweat with a shaking hand.

"Riley," Jack breathed out letting his body relax. He was safe, no forest, no cannibals...no Mac. Riley knew that panicked look.

"Jack, he's ok. Just breathe a minute." Riley reached out and wrapped him in a hug. Jack smiled and returned it. He hadn't thought he'd ever see her again. He pulled back. Riley spun away hiding a sparkling of tears.

"Riley? Are you ok?" Jack said alarmed. He pulled back the blankets and froze gaping at his leg. It was swollen double it's normal size on either side of his knee. A metal brace ran from his ankle to the middle of his thigh over the bandage. Riley turned hearing his gasp. She put a hand on his shoulder smiling.

"It's gonna be ok, Jack. You just pulled every tendon, ligament or muscle there is on your knee, and they had to give you a new patella...knee cap." Jack grinned and wiggled his toes.

"I got a bionic knee!" Riley opened her mouth then closed it shaking her head.

"Well, enjoy it. When they take you off your morphine drip, you're gonna be feeling every stitch." Jack looked up at the bag over his bed and shot Riley a toothy smile.

"The good stuff! You know Riley," Jack leaned forward. Riley leaned forward, "If we gave that to everybody we would so have world peace!" Riley laughed and nodded.

"You might just be onto something there, Old Man."

"Don't tell Matty!" Jack hissed.

"Don't tell me what?" Jack jumped. That little woman shows up everywhere! Jack offered his best sweet smile.

"Nothing, little lady, how's my bitty boss?" Matty rolled her eyes and glanced at Riley.

"Morphine?" Riley laughed.

"I have got to talk to Doc Carl about that. Has he drunk texted yet?"

"He woke up a little while ago. What's up, Jack?" Jack was looking at his leg a frown on his face.

"What day is it? How long was I out? How long were we gone? Where's Mac? I have to get out of this...contraption.!" Jack growled. Riley stepped forward and pulled his hand off the handrail before he could pull himself out of his bed.

"Dalton lay down and relax or I'll tell Laura you want a bed bath!" Jack glared at her but laid back.

"You wouldn't!" Matty shot him a wicked grin with a raised eyebrow. Jack liked the gruff nurse, but Laura had a little too many amorous feelings toward Jack. He didn't want to get her hopes up then have to crush them. Matty stepped forward and put her small warm hands on Jack's her eyes softening.

"You've been gone from here two weeks." Jack raised his eyebrows.

"That's all?" Jack's turned away his eyes taking a haunted look. He felt like the dark forest had seeped into his bones, staining him permanently. Riley put her hand on his chest. He offered her a watery smile and put his hand over hers. He took a steadying breath and nodded at Matty to continue.

"Yeah, Nellie and Nick told us everything that happened." Matty's voice was gentle enough Jack had to clear his throat to keep from breaking down, "You got everyone home, Jack. And finished the mission." Matty's eyes shone with pride. Jack frowned.

"The mission?"

"Yeah, to retrieve Phoenix's asset from the plane." Matty sighed, "The flash drives, Jack. You got the flash drives."

"Oh. Huh." Jack fought to keep his eyes open. He'd forgotten about the flash drives; they didn't seem to matter, "And Mac?"

"You've been in and out for the past week…" Riley side stepped Jack's question. His eyes narrowed, and he stared at Matty. Matty grabbed Jack's hand her eyes serious. Jack shook his head.

"Matty...no…"

"Jack. Jack?"

"No, no, no…" Jack began to cry.

"JACK! He's alive, God!" Matty roared. Jack collapsed back letting out a deep breath. He wiped his face. Mac was alive. Jack hadn't killed him. When Jack could speak again, he turned to look at Matty.

"How bad?"

"It's not good. Mac was barely alive when you were life-lifted here. They drained his lungs; he lost almost a gallon of blood."

"WHAT?" Jack jolted up to sitting, "That's all the body has isn't it?"

"Damn near," Riley said softly. She grabbed Jack's hand. He wrung hers. She winced but didn't complain.

"He's got his tenth unit of RBCs hanging now, Jack breathe." Jack took in a shaky breath and laid back. His eyes were again dripping tears.

"I didn't kill him," Jack said closing his eyes fighting sobs. He looked at Matty. She frowned.

"No, you didn't. You did the impossible and brought all of them back, Jack."

"Is...is he going to be ok?" Jack's voice was small, tense with dread. Riley and Matty shared a worried glance. Riley squeezed his hand harder.

"We don't know, Jack. He's on a ventilator. They want his lungs to heal."

"They are still draining blood out," Riley added softly. Jack gaped. How much blood could one body lose? His eyes snapped back to Matty.

"He had surgery to fix his shoulder…" Matty looked down, and Jack could see her fight a shudder. Jack thought of how it looked after they'd bashed into the rocks. And Mac never complained? Jack sniffed his face wet with a sheen of tears. He blinked at Matty. She hesitated.

"Matty, please for God's sake…"

"He's been awake this whole time. They can't knock him out." Jack sat up in horror. Awake during surgery? With a vent? "He has something in his blood that counteracts sedatives."

"What about pain medicine." Riley and Matty shared another worried look. Jack's heart failed.

"All the narcotics." He guessed. Jack closed his eyes. No, he didn't kill his brother, only tortured him worse than anything he'd ever been through before. Jack began to shake, and the wall broke. Riley wrapped him in a hug pulling his head to his shoulder as he gave in to gut-busting tears.

Jack didn't remember falling asleep. He opened his eyes. It was night. Riley and Matty were gone. Nellie sat silently at his side flipping through a tablet. The light from videos flickered across her face. She smiled and flipped to another video. Jack smiled. She wore earbuds and looked like an average kid. When she smiled, she looked years younger than she had in the woods.

"Nellie?" Jack said. His voice was hoarse. She didn't respond. Jack realized she had earbuds tucked into her hair. He reached out and touched her shoulder. She lept up with half a scream her wild eyes looking around her with panic. Jack tugged on the wire popping the earpiece out, "Sorry kid, didn't mean to give you a heart attack." Nellie grinned dropping the tablet on the chair she'd been sitting. Jack rose up to meet her fierce hug.

"I was so worried!" Nellie said. When she stood back, she turned away wiping her face and trying to hide it. She cleared her throat and poured him a glass of water. It had a city-chlorine taste but was cold. Jack sucked two glasses down. Jack handed her the glass, raised the bed, and clicked on the lights over the bed. He squinted against the sudden brightness. Nellie clung to his hand with both of hers. Jack grunted sliding over. Nellie sat on the edge. She absently rubbed her thumbs across Jack's rough skin. Her fingers were cold.

"Have you seen, Mac?" He asked softly. She looked down as if Jack's hand was the most interesting thing in the world, "Hey, hey...kiddo, this ain't on you, ok." Nellie looked up. Her young eyes seemed ancient, "I made the decision, it was me. Ok?" Nellie's lip trembled, but she nodded. Jack frowned knowing it was going to take a lot more convincing before she believed it. He mentally put that on the back burner.

"So where is everyone?" Nellie smiled, the years falling off again.

"Nick and Bozer are with Mac. Riley and Matty went to get coffee, and said they'd be back in half an hour."

"And the ladies from our army?" Nellie's smile faded with sadness, "They went with rescue to bring Cathy's body back." She looked down. Jack squeezed her hand again. She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. Girl's a rock star. Jack thought, "After you passed out, a message came over the...Mac's thing. A bunch of helicopters landed with a lot of people wearing the same jackets with different letters." Nellie frowned.

"If they're from different agencies, why do they all have the same jackets?" Jack laughed.

"I have no idea, girl. Probably get them cheap somewhere." Nellie shrugged.

"Anyway, they took you and Mac right away. Nick and I told them everything about...well everything. Squads went out into the woods and cleaned up the bodies...you kept your promise." Nellie looked at Jack with an adoration that made the older man squirm.

"Nellie, you...you made it happen for all of us. We'd be dead if it weren't for you and Nick, I owe you for my life and m'boy." Jack's voice thickened. Nellie let Jack's hand go and busied herself with the pitcher pouring another glass of water for Jack. As Jack sipped, his IV ran dry. Jack glared at the obnoxious beep wishing he knew how to turn the stupid thing off before...too late. Laura strode in. Nellie stood up.

"I guess I better…" Jack grabbed her arm and yanked her back to the bed.

"Don't you dare!" He hissed. Nellie opened her mouth but closed it at the look of fear Jack threw to Laura. Nellie smiled. Jack shot her an evil glare. She bit her lip to keep from laughing.

"Well, Sweetie. You're finally awake." Laura changed out the IV then leaned over Jack with her stethoscope. Nellie's shoulders shook silently. Jack's face was beet red, and he stubbornly stared up at the ceiling tiles. Laura hummed and hmphed as she ran her stethoscope across his chest taking more time than was necessary, in Jack's opinion.

Finally, the older woman stood up and smiled at Jack, her eyes traveling his body.

"Your heartrate's a little high. Otherwise, you look just fine." Jack clenched his teeth at the kitten purr in the froglike voice. Laura patted him on his moveable leg, a little too high. Jack swallowed a squawk. Laura turned and left, an extra swing to her lips. Jack let out a deep breath. Nellie broke into full-bodied guffaws. Jack huffed and crossed his arms glaring at her. It only made her laugh more.

Nellie only started to get her giggles under control when Riley and Matty came in carrying three large coffees. They took one look at Jack's flustered face and shared a knowing look.

"Laura?" Matty asked. Nellie just nodded. All three women burst into belly laughs. Jack silently sliced the three of them apart with his glare.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

The next morning Jack raised holy hell until Sally finally threw up her hands and helped him go to ICU to see Mac. Jack cried out as his bad leg which stuck out in front of him in the wheelchair banged into the wall again.

"Dammit, Sally! Where the hell did you learn how to drive?" He didn't have to see her face to feel her amusement. Mac was right; the woman was evil.

"Who said I ever did?" Jack mumbled under his breath stopping and throwing his hands over his head letting out a squeal of alarm as they rounded another corner.

"Oh, chill Jack, sheesh," Sally said gently pulling Jack to the ICU room. He realized that she'd done every bump on purpose with enough force to scare him, but not enough to hurt him. Jack's face fell into a tragic mask. She was trying to distract him so he wouldn't freak out with impatience on the way up to see Mac. Jack looked up at her, noting how pale her face was, how dark the circles under her eyes were. Jack patted her hand. She gave him a sad smile and nodded. They shared a joint mission to keep Mac healthy.

Jack often wondered why Sally took such care of Mac. It wasn't for gratitude. Mac considered Sally an unnecessary evil. The battles they got into when both of their strong wills clashed were epic, from the sidelines. Jack thought Sally saw through Mac's surliness and saw what it was, fear. He shook his head as they neared Mac's room. Jack's heart tripped. He admitted he'd been trying to distract himself. He had to face Mac...and knowing it was his fault...Jack swallowed and braced himself. Sally eased him into the room.

Jack gasped. He felt Sally's warm hand on his shoulder. Mac was beyond pale and a little yellow around his eyes and nose. Jack knew that was from receiving so many transfusions. A tree of IV bags hung over his bed, Jack recognized blood and thought one might be concentrated nutrition. A thick white dressing circled his chest and a rubber hose stuck out of either side. Blood and fluids flowed into a box with numbers along its side.

Mac's neck, chest, right shoulder and right hand were immobilized in a heavy metal frame. Screws and bolts bristled through his skin like a porcupine's back. Sally had said they'd basically had to rebuild the kid's shoulder. Jack grimaced. All those screws and bolts holding his bones together without pain medicine? Jack bit his lip from screaming. This was worse than any torture he could imagine. There was nobody to scream a confession to so they'd stop hurting Mac, start hurting him instead. And he'd done this to his friend. Jack almost told Sally to take him back to his room, but a long time ago he'd made a scrawny kid a promise and he'd be damned if he'd abandon him now.

Mac's head was tilted to the side and the ventilator's rhythmic swish was loud in the otherwise silent room. Jack closed his eyes feeling another dagger stab his heart. Mac's good arm was tied down. Mac couldn't move. Jack scrubbed his face with his palm wiping away his wash of tears. He glanced up at Sally who shared a grim look with him. Her soft eyes asked a question. Jack nodded. She offered a gentle smile and parked him next to the bed where Mac could see him.

Mac's face was wet with tears. Mac scrunched his eyes shut, trying to block everything out. A constant drip of sweat ran from his damp hair his forehead wrinkled, the only sign of his real agony. Jack closed his eyes and bowed his head breathing through his mouth so he wouldn't start sobbing. Once he thought he had control he looked up.

"Hey, brother…" He started, his hoarse voice evaporating. Mac slowly opened his eyes turning with dread, bracing for more pain. Jack swallowed but couldn't spit out any more words. Mac blinked until he was able to bring Jack's face into focus. His eyes widened, and Jack could see his cheeks move around the tape holding the tube down his throat in place. Jack hoped it was a smile. Mac went to move his arm; a soft restraint limited its movement.. Mac tipped his head back shutting his eyes in frustration. Jack could see the muscles in his neck stiffen. The vent beeped.

"Hey, hey. Easy amigo. Give me a minute; I'll get you outta that restraint." Mac looked at him taking a deep breath. Jack could see tension leave his body. Jack rolled around the bed barely feeling the bolt of pain in his knee when he rammed it into the wall. He untied the restraint. Mac reached out and clung to Jack's wrist. Jack leaned forward and grabbed Mac's hand with both of his. He leaned down and put his forehead on all three. When he sat back up tears were flowing unchecked down his face.

Mac was studying him, his face just as wet. Jack swiped at his face and chuckled. Mac raised an eyebrow.

"When did we become girls?" Mac's abdomen bounced then he closed his eyes in pain. Jack realized Mac had laughed. After five cycles of the vent, Mac opened his eyes and looked at Jack studying him. Jack could easily read his partner's worry, "now stop that, you know I'm fine, I'm always fine." Mac rolled his eyes and made a motion with his free hand. Jack grinned, "That's why you're the genius!" Jack hit the call light. When Sally came to the door, Mac closed his eyes pretending to be asleep. Sally winked at Jack. Mac didn't fool her for a minute.

"What do you need?" She whispered. Jack grinned playing along. In a soft voice, he said Mac indicated he wanted to write something. Sally's eyes lit up with genuine happiness.

"Fantastic idea, Jack! I wonder why nobody thought of that before; I'll go get the paper." Sally turned and left. Mac opened his eyes and glared at Jack. Jack shrugged.

"What can I do, brother? You want me to tell her you're awake?" Mac's anger became a silent pleading. Both men knew that when Sally saw you awake and hurting she always ended up stabbing some part of your anatomy. Unfortunately, they had forgotten how silent and sneaky she could be.

"Ah, you're awake, great!" Jack jumped. Mac shot him a desperate look. Jack threw up his hands and rolled out of the way. Sure enough, under the clipboard and pad of paper, the red-head hid a loaded syringe. Jack winced as Sally jabbed it quickly in Mac's thigh. Mac closed his eyes, and the vent beeped as he held his breath lost in pain, "C'mon, buddy breathe." Jack said quietly. Sally pushed Jack near the bed again. Jack held Mac's arm and rubbed his forearm in a slow, gentle rhythm, "Easy, kiddo, it's ok. Just breathe." Mac's body relaxed by stages. He looked at Jack with relief and gratitude. Jack looked away burning with shame. Mac frowned and held out his hand.

Jack handed him a pen then held the clipboard while Mac scrawled. Mac's hand shook as he finished writing and he sank back exhausted. It took a minute for Jack to decipher the page of the scrawled mess.

It's ok, I know about the stuff Nellie gave me, I would have taken it anyway. Stop with the guilt. I am so glad to see you, this really sucks! I love you, brother.

Jack's shoulders sank. He felt like a steel beam had fallen from his back. He looked up to see Mac had fallen asleep. Jack set aside the paper and grabbed Mac's hand.

"I love you too, ol' son." He murmured. Jack laid his head on Mac's bed and breathed out. For the first time, he relaxed. They really were home. Later the rest of the team came in to find both men asleep and grinning as if they were both having the same happy dream.

"Let's let them sleep; they earned it." Matty murmured clicking off the light, shutting the door behind them.

Two weeks later Mac got off the vent. His eyes no longer held the shadows of panic. His breathing was still wet, but he was better than the docs thought he ever would be. Unfortunately, they said, he was not well enough to go home despite what he said. Another week passed. Jack was discharged. He went home for all of half an hour. He took a shower, got into old Jeans-which he had to cut a leg off of-and a loose T-Shirt. Two more weeks and the chest tubes came out, and Mac was healthy enough for the second of multiple surgeries to fix his shoulder. At least this time he was unconscious. When Jack asked about it, Mac said he didn't remember it. Jack didn't know if Mac was lying or not.

Matty offered Nick and Nellie jobs at Phoenix, both accepted. Nick worked in the lab with Bozer having some ideas for improving the latex blend Bozer used to make disguises. Nellie began training as a TAC team member. Jack carefully monitored her training, not giving her special treatment, well not too much...Luckily for Nellie, most of Jack's focus was on getting Mac home. After six weeks in the hospital, Mac finally crossed the threshold of his house leaning on Bozer's shoulder his shoulder and arm in a cast that completely immobilized them. Mac no longer had the neck brace, but he couldn't move his neck too far before it hurt like a firebrand jammed the bones against each other in his spine.

A steady stream of visitors and well-wishers passed through over the next few days. Nick and Nellie were bright with happiness. Nick was showing Nellie the "real" world and she was loving it. Dominique stopped by with a tall elegant man, both could have been cover models. She called him her "trophy" husband. Mac was thrilled to hear she'd found out that she was expecting a baby in a few months. Dominique asked what Mac's first name was. He suggested that they name it after Jack instead. With Jack energetically lobbying for the idea, the baby was saddled with the name Handsome Jack Russel. Jack declared it perfect and made himself Handsome's Godfather to no one's surprise. Anna brought her whole brood of kids, six from the late teens to a baby and her husband who shuffled behind her looking happy but lost. When Jack and Mac couldn't figure out why Riley pointed out that the woman might as well have been in prison. Riley had never seen the two men look more gob stopped before.

After two months, Jack and Mac were sitting out on the deck looking out at a glorious sunset. Since being back, the pair has taken every opportunity to stay outside in the bright sun as they could. The quiet between them was comfortable. A small fire crackled in the fire pit.

"It's good to be home." Mac sighed with contentment.

"Yep."

"You ok?"

"Mostly. Still not a fan of trees right now."

"I hear that. Or steak…" Both men shuddered.

"Are you ok?"

"Well, I only have another three surgeries to go, or so they say." Jack nodded hearing his friend's frustration, "Matty says you could go back to work." Mac mentioned it casually leaving the unspoken question hanging in the air.

"Yep, not gonna though." They were silent a long minute.

"Thanks, Jack. I'd go insane if I had to hang around here by myself." Mac admitted. Jack chuckled and looked at Mac through his yellow aviator shades.

"Well, we could always go hiking." Mac shot Jack a nasty look.

"Ha. Ha. You know I hate you, right?"

"Yep." Jack held out his fist, and Mac gave it a bump, "I hate you too, kiddo."

***** And there you have it, another adventure survived, mostly. Originally I meant this to be a fun romp but then cannibals came out of the woods, literally, and I sort of went all Deliverance. Sometimes you just gotta! LOL. As always, THANK YOU for reading and extra love to those who commented/ favorited/ followed, you guys are the best! I know I promised Corydon awhile ago, but it's still not quite cooked enough. I do have a story almost finished, and this one really is a fun romp with a healthy main course of hurt/ comfort. Expect to see multiple chapters posted later today or tomorrow. Thank you for those who send ideas. If I don't use them, it's more than likely because I don't think I could do them justice. Thanks for posting them and keep them coming. Peace and may a cannibal never invite you to dinner!